Stan Dueck and a whole host of leaders – 22 leaders, to be exact – from the Church of the Brethren participated in this year’s Inhabit Conference by Parish Collective. It was so great for me to see an infusion
Had a great family vacation in and around Winnipeg. Connected with a number of church leaders in the avant-church world and connected with lots of family. One night we got together with Mark Humphries and the simple church he does
It’s been a bit of a quiet season for my online journal. Between the Generous Orthodoxy conference, AAR, American thanksgiving, the first week of Advent, a few significant changes in Quest, teaching, and home life with Lynette and Pascal I’ve
The Vancouver film festival is underway; and since Lynette’s brother (Bevan Klassen) had his latest short film screening in the festival we drove up and spent some time with him and Frank Zappia (who has acted in a number of Bevan’s
The fall trimester has begun; and I have the unspeakable privilege of teaching a full load at MHGS. The paths along which I get to serve as a guide are: An Introduction to the Hermeneutical Task: The Art of Reading
Yesterday morning Lynette, Pascal and I went to hear a friend who was guest preaching in Queen Anne; on the way home we stopped at Dick’s Drive-In. Dick’s is one of Seattle’s sacred venues; a classic burger joint. We ordered four
For the second week out of the last three weeks, I have almost no Internet access. Lynette, Pascal, and I are at a wonderful cabin on Vancouver Island celebrating my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. It seems like the art of
Well, Lynette, Pascal, and I have returned from a week with Lynette’s family at her parents cabin on Ditch Lake, in Southern Manitoba. Certainly a much needed break. Wonderful conversations, great food and sitting around campfires; not to mention sneaking
Today is a day of table fellowship. Lunch with Joel VandenBrink and theologian Colin Greene. Colin’s latest book is, Christology in Cultural Perspective: marking out the horizons. Then, I get to have coffee with a prospective MDiv student at Mars Hill Graduate School.
Lynette, Pascal and I are going camping. This will be the first time in years that I will be camping for more than one night. I’ve always said that, for me, “roughing it” is thin towels as a hotel. I
I’ve always loved the idea that graduations are commencements; they are endings which are beginnings – they are dénouement. Pascal’s leap of faith This past weekend was my hooding/commencement for my Doctor of Ministry from GFU. My dad & mum,
Well, I’m back to the world of the web connected. After a week in LA at Fuller Seminary and in Portland at George Fox University without access, it feels so good to have my networked-mind back. The time at the
Today was my hooding ceremony at George Fox University. My classes are done, dissertation completed, defense successful, and today I gathered with my teachers, mentors, family, cohort, and friends, to be hooded and receive a doctoral hood, tam, and stripes.
Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger at Fuller and Mark Priddy (Allelon) are bringing a group of Avant-church influencers together for a few days to discuss church, networking, training, leadership, etc. I head out very early this morning. This will be
Today I have the privilege of spending some time with one of the ooze’s e-trek learning cohorts focused around “Building Healthy Community.” My friend Joe Myers is the guide for this journey. Click here for a movie of the Evolution
Yesterday Joel, Tim and I went to a day long conference with Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch (authors of, The Shaping of Things to Come). The event was hosted and sponsored by Zoe, a church community in Tacoma, pastored by
It’s official! Today, I successfully passed the oral defense of my dissertation; my readers signed off on it. Though the hooding ceremony is at the end of April I believe I can be called “doc” . . . but please
As is so often the case with at least me, when my journal is quiet – life isn’t. In addition to observing the 36th anniversary of my birth, I had a pretty full teaching week; 20 hours in the classroom.
Yesterday I submitted the penultimate draft of my doctoral dissertation! O the joy! Lynette, Pascal and I did the happy dance all over the house; we went out for dinner, opened a bottle of champagne and celebrated the fact the “WE did
Yesterday a good friend had open heart value replacement surgery. Clinton Wilson (who is one of the people I’m working with to open a bar in Seattle) is not even 30 years old, and is one of the biggest hearted
Today my son, Pascal goes in for surgery to have his adenoids removed and his second set of drainage tubes installed in his ears. He’s 3.5 years old and suffered with non-stop ear infections for at least three of those
You may have noticed that my journal has been a bit quiet. In addition to needing to complete grading the final assignments for five different courses at two different schools and calculating final grades for those classes by the early
A few resources came across my desk that I would like to recommend: One, is a memoir by one of the early innovators of postmodern church ministry.Mark Humphries has recently published A Bridge between Two Worlds: The Story of a
For almost a year a motley crew of six have gathered to dream, pray, and play with the hope of opening a bar in Seattle. We are so close we can taste it. Our business plan is all but done,
Karen Horst Cobb, wrote a powerful short editorial titled, No Longer a Christian, it was published on www.CommonDreams.org. Worth really reading. On a personal note. What a great day. I had the privilege of spending a good chunk of the
This morning I was graced to be with Jamal Rahman; a kind, humble, and open Islamic cleric and author of the outstanding book, The Fragrance of Faith: the enlightened heart of Islam. I want to learn in praxis how to
It was a friend’s birthday yesterday. Her birthday was forever changed three years ago. As you know, yesterday was the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks that we now simply refer to as 9-11. Yesterday was also Jewish S’lichot in
Lynette, Pascal & I are back from Kentucky. I had the privilege of officiating the wedding of Andrew and Hannah. The whole weekend was filled with beautiful relational moments. Dallas and Leanne came down to the wedding so we even
Today will be the fourth Gathering in the seven year history of Quest that I won’t be there for. Lynette, Pascal and I are taking just a couple of days as a family. I feel such a tension, one the
